BSN 246
HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM V1|Nightingale
College – Complete 100 Question & Answer Bank
|Answers & Expert Rationales Included (2026)
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
• Hesi Health Assessment Exam V1
• Nightingale College
• Complete 100 Question
• Answers & Expert Rationales
• New 2026
,BSN 246 HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM V1
Nightingale College – Complete 100 Question & Answer Bank
Answers & Expert Rationales Included
Question 1: The nurse is performing a thoracic assessment on a client with
chronic asthma and hyperinflation of the lungs. Which finding should be
expected?
• A) Clubbed fingers
• B) Barrel chest
• C) Pectus excavatum
• D) Unequal chest expansion
Correct Answer: B) Barrel chest
Expert Rationale: Chronic asthma with hyperinflation leads to increased residual
lung volume, causing the rib cage to remain partially expanded. This results in a
barrel chest configuration (increased anteroposterior diameter).
Question 2: A client has been diagnosed with bilateral lower lobe atelectasis.
What percussion sound should the nurse expect to hear when percussing over the
client's lower lobes?
• A) Hyperresonance
• B) Tympany
• C) Dull, thud-like
• D) Flatness
Correct Answer: C) Dull, thud-like
Expert Rationale: Atelectasis involves collapsed, airless lung tissue, which
becomes dense. Percussion over dense tissue produces a dull sound.
,Question 3: What is the best place for the nurse to hear lower lobe lung sounds
with a stethoscope?
• A) Anterior chest at the 2nd intercostal space
• B) Lateral chest at the 4th intercostal space
• C) Posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space
• D) Apical areas bilaterally
Correct Answer: C) Posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space
Expert Rationale: Lower lobes occupy the posterior and base regions of the lungs.
Auscultation on the posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space allows for
optimal assessment.
Question 4: The nurse is assessing bowel sounds for a hospitalized client. The
nurse has heard bowel sounds in the right upper quadrant. What action should
the nurse take next?
• A) Move to the next quadrant immediately
• B) Note the character and frequency of bowel sounds
• C) Document as hypoactive and continue
• D) Auscultate for a full 5 minutes before documenting
Correct Answer: B) Note the character and frequency of bowel sounds
Expert Rationale: Upon hearing bowel sounds, the nurse should note their
character (high-pitched, gurgling) and frequency (every 5-15 seconds) before
moving to the next quadrant.
Question 5: A client is in the clinic for a yearly physical examination. Which action
should the nurse take when preparing to examine the client's abdomen?
• A) Position the client supine with arms overhead
• B) Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination
, • C) Warm the stethoscope for 10 minutes
• D) Palpate tender areas first to minimize discomfort
Correct Answer: B) Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination
Expert Rationale: A full bladder can interfere with accurate palpation and cause
discomfort. Emptying the bladder also prevents bladder distention from being
mistaken for a mass.
Question 6: The nurse is assessing a healthy young adult during an annual
physical examination. Which assessment technique should the nurse implement
when palpating the abdominal aorta?
• A) Light palpation in the epigastric region
• B) Deep palpation above and to the left of the umbilicus
• C) Percussion of the midline at the xiphoid process
• D) Auscultation with the bell at the right lower quadrant
Correct Answer: B) Deep palpation above and to the left of the umbilicus
Expert Rationale: The abdominal aorta bifurcates at approximately the level of
the umbilicus. Deep palpation slightly above and to the left of the umbilicus
allows the nurse to assess aortic pulsation.
Question 7: While performing a head-to-toe assessment, the nurse assesses the
client's pupillary accommodation. The nurse notes that the client's pupils
constrict and there is a convergence of the axes of the eyes. What action should
the nurse implement next?
• A) Request a referral to an ophthalmologist
• B) Document a normal finding
• C) Prepare for a neurologic examination
• D) Palpate the pupils for symmetry
HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM V1|Nightingale
College – Complete 100 Question & Answer Bank
|Answers & Expert Rationales Included (2026)
THIS EXAM INCLUDES:
• Hesi Health Assessment Exam V1
• Nightingale College
• Complete 100 Question
• Answers & Expert Rationales
• New 2026
,BSN 246 HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM V1
Nightingale College – Complete 100 Question & Answer Bank
Answers & Expert Rationales Included
Question 1: The nurse is performing a thoracic assessment on a client with
chronic asthma and hyperinflation of the lungs. Which finding should be
expected?
• A) Clubbed fingers
• B) Barrel chest
• C) Pectus excavatum
• D) Unequal chest expansion
Correct Answer: B) Barrel chest
Expert Rationale: Chronic asthma with hyperinflation leads to increased residual
lung volume, causing the rib cage to remain partially expanded. This results in a
barrel chest configuration (increased anteroposterior diameter).
Question 2: A client has been diagnosed with bilateral lower lobe atelectasis.
What percussion sound should the nurse expect to hear when percussing over the
client's lower lobes?
• A) Hyperresonance
• B) Tympany
• C) Dull, thud-like
• D) Flatness
Correct Answer: C) Dull, thud-like
Expert Rationale: Atelectasis involves collapsed, airless lung tissue, which
becomes dense. Percussion over dense tissue produces a dull sound.
,Question 3: What is the best place for the nurse to hear lower lobe lung sounds
with a stethoscope?
• A) Anterior chest at the 2nd intercostal space
• B) Lateral chest at the 4th intercostal space
• C) Posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space
• D) Apical areas bilaterally
Correct Answer: C) Posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space
Expert Rationale: Lower lobes occupy the posterior and base regions of the lungs.
Auscultation on the posterior chest below the 3rd intercostal space allows for
optimal assessment.
Question 4: The nurse is assessing bowel sounds for a hospitalized client. The
nurse has heard bowel sounds in the right upper quadrant. What action should
the nurse take next?
• A) Move to the next quadrant immediately
• B) Note the character and frequency of bowel sounds
• C) Document as hypoactive and continue
• D) Auscultate for a full 5 minutes before documenting
Correct Answer: B) Note the character and frequency of bowel sounds
Expert Rationale: Upon hearing bowel sounds, the nurse should note their
character (high-pitched, gurgling) and frequency (every 5-15 seconds) before
moving to the next quadrant.
Question 5: A client is in the clinic for a yearly physical examination. Which action
should the nurse take when preparing to examine the client's abdomen?
• A) Position the client supine with arms overhead
• B) Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination
, • C) Warm the stethoscope for 10 minutes
• D) Palpate tender areas first to minimize discomfort
Correct Answer: B) Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination
Expert Rationale: A full bladder can interfere with accurate palpation and cause
discomfort. Emptying the bladder also prevents bladder distention from being
mistaken for a mass.
Question 6: The nurse is assessing a healthy young adult during an annual
physical examination. Which assessment technique should the nurse implement
when palpating the abdominal aorta?
• A) Light palpation in the epigastric region
• B) Deep palpation above and to the left of the umbilicus
• C) Percussion of the midline at the xiphoid process
• D) Auscultation with the bell at the right lower quadrant
Correct Answer: B) Deep palpation above and to the left of the umbilicus
Expert Rationale: The abdominal aorta bifurcates at approximately the level of
the umbilicus. Deep palpation slightly above and to the left of the umbilicus
allows the nurse to assess aortic pulsation.
Question 7: While performing a head-to-toe assessment, the nurse assesses the
client's pupillary accommodation. The nurse notes that the client's pupils
constrict and there is a convergence of the axes of the eyes. What action should
the nurse implement next?
• A) Request a referral to an ophthalmologist
• B) Document a normal finding
• C) Prepare for a neurologic examination
• D) Palpate the pupils for symmetry
